Cities are often associated with excitement and culture rather than beauty, yet many of the world’s urban hubs rival the prettiest villages and the most striking natural wonders in the looks department. These are the world's beautiful cities with breathtaking surroundings, awe-inspiring architecture and landmarks that have stood for centuries.

From colourful old towns to sleek modern skylines, click through this gallery to discover the most beautiful cities on Earth...

It isn’t just the fabulous, feather-filled, colourful Rio Carnival that earns Rio a place on our list. Its seaside location and dramatic, mountainous surrounds and general flamboyance place it among the world’s most gorgeous destinations. Highlights including Copacabana and Ipanema Beach, with a swirly black-and-white promenade and sweep of honey sand, are watched over by the granite peak of Sugarloaf Mountain and the ivory statue of Christ the Redeemer, which stands with open arms atop Mount Corcovado.

Bruges’ compact size and perfect prettiness can make it seem a little unreal, like a classic postcard come to life or perhaps a toy town, albeit infused with the scents of beer, frites and sweet crepes. The city is characterised by cobbled lanes, canals, medieval spires and looping bridges. Life centres around its squares: Burg, dominated by the 14th-century Gothic Town Hall; and Markt, home to one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the medieval Belfry (bell tower).

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Muscat is a dazzling city, stretching for almost 25 miles (40km) along the Gulf of Oman. Alongside opulent modern buildings like Al Alam Palace and the Royal Opera House, it’s home to some fascinating historic districts. Mutrah Souq is a dizzyingly colourful bazaar, while walled Old Muscat’s traditional Arabian architecture gives it a timeless appeal. But the jewel in Muscat’s crown is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, an awe-inspiring edifice of gleaming gold, vibrant turquoise and cool, white marble.

Dubrovnik’s 13th-century old town looks more like an oversized sculpture than a city. From its apricot and honey-hued rooftops to its wide, marble roads, it’s almost too pretty to be true. Thick, beautifully preserved stone walls encompass this part with walkways that give clear views in every direction, from hillsides with hotels and houses to the Adriatic Sea, whose sapphire water is dotted with verdant islands.

York has an impressive pedigree, having been founded way back in AD 71 by the Romans. Parts of the Roman city still exist, but the most eye-catching landmarks – from the Gothic York Minster to the imposing shell of York Castle – are medieval. At its heart is Stonegate, which is lined with independent shops and cafes – and has a Roman road running beneath it. The wonderfully named Shambles is another charming street, overhung by half-timbered houses dating back to the 14th century.

Encircled by walls laid in the 10th century, Itchan Kala (Khiva’s Inner City) has a singular collection of historic buildings, giving a fascinating insight into Central Asian Islamic architecture. But more than any individual sight – including the squat Kalta Minor Minaret, sumptuous Tosh Hovli Palace or ornately tiled Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum – Itchan Kala’s most astounding feature is how preserved it feels. Its mud-walled streets and courtyard homes seem barely touched by modern life.

Sydney positively sparkles with fresh, sleek beauty, from its green spaces and beaches to its incredible architecture. Life gravitates towards its natural waterway, Sydney Harbour, where the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House compete for attention. The neighbours are equally pretty, with cobbled shopping streets, Victorian arcades and a patchwork of parks. Topping it off are an embarrassment of beautiful beaches, from small coves around the sheltered harbour to iconic Bondi.

Though it’s beautiful in every season, Bergen really comes into its own as the days grow shorter and the snow piles up. Its richly coloured houses cling to the mountainsides, seeming to huddle together against the cold, reflecting perfectly in the clear waters of the North Sea. The Floibanen funicular winds its way up to Mount Floyen for sweeping views of the city. Bergen may be known as the gateway to the fjords, but there’s plenty of beauty to be found within the city too.

County Galway regularly appears on lists of the most beautiful places in Ireland, so it’s no surprise that its capital city is a stunner too. The city’s ancient core is still in use, with Kirwan's Lane a fine example of the narrow medieval streets, all cobblestones and arches. The Claddagh, a fishing district with origins in the 5th century, lies to the west of the city with colourful fishermen’s cottages and glorious views across the water.

Architecture and natural beauty come together perfectly in Prague, particularly where the medieval stone arch of Charles Bridge spans the wide Vltava River. It’s been dubbed ‘the City of a Hundred Spires’, though it’s so chock-full of Gothic churches and towers that it surely must have more. One of the prettiest parts is the Old Town Square, with Baroque architecture and the intricate, animated Astronomical Clock.

Of all Rajasthan’s beautiful cities, Udaipur is perhaps the most heavenly. Known as the City of the Lakes, it looks almost as though it’s floating on the water, its lime-washed buildings light and dreamily delicate. Surrounded by sawtoothed peaks, this romantic city is a self-contained world full of palaces, forts and havelis (mansions built around courtyards). Its most iconic building is City Palace, Rajasthan’s largest royal complex, made up of 11 dazzling palaces overlooking Lake Pichola.

Though Lisbon gets most of the attention, Portugal’s second city is uniquely beautiful and atmospheric, especially in its medieval Ribeira district. Here, centuries-old merchants’ and mariners’ homes line cobbled streets, seeming to crane their necks over each other to get a view of the Douro River. In fact, the whole town seems focused on the river, with its grand bridges – from the double-decker Ponte de Dom Luís I to the sleek, modern Ponte de Sao Joao – among the city’s most well-known sights.

From its clusters of colourful houses to the almost extraterrestrial drama of its famous Lutheran church Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik is one of a kind. Most of the city is low-rise, making Mount Esja – often still dusted with snow well into the warmer months – an even more impressive and imposing presence across the water.

Edinburgh’s steep cobbled lanes, Neoclassical architecture and elegant gardens hint at its rich past. But there’s also a vibrancy and dynamism to Scotland’s capital that makes it more than an open-air museum. Its beauty is gallery-worthy, from the medieval old town and (relatively new) Georgian New Town to the crowning jewel (and home of the country’s Crown Jewels), hilltop Edinburgh Castle. The city unfurls in all its honey-hued sandstone beauty from Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s highest peak, as well as from monument-topped Carlton Hill (pictured).

Cork has so much charm and beauty it’s bordering on greedy. Medieval streets wind to colourful riverside terraces, and refined Georgian avenues and Victorian warehouses share neighbourhoods with daring modern architecture. Somehow, this eclectic jumble of styles and periods comes together perfectly, creating a beautiful and truly unique cityscape to rival any elsewhere in Europe – no wonder its inhabitants are so welcoming and proud of their home. Cork is one of the highlights of a Wild Atlantic Way road trip.

Not all skylines were created equal. Manhattan’s jagged, glinting cityscape is one of the world’s most famous and recognisable vistas. It looks gorgeous in any light, from the pale haze of dawn to sunset and after dark, when the big city’s bright lights shimmer over the broad Hudson River. The beauty doesn’t stop there. From the glorious green space that is Central Park and the famous cables of the Brooklyn Bridge to the city’s famous brownstones, every inch is ridiculously photogenic.

There’s much more to Cusco than being the gateway to Machu Picchu. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Americas, its steep, cobbled streets are packed with Spanish-Colonial buildings with plant-filled courtyards, all against a backdrop of the Andes mountains. Inca sites stand shoulder to shoulder with mansions and Catholic churches, while in the San Blas district, narrow lanes wind between small churches and artisans’ workshops.

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There’s no question: Cape Town is the most beautiful city in southern Africa. At its heart, both literally and figuratively, is Table Mountain, whose flat top has open views across the whole metropolis. On the Atlantic seaboard are white-sand beaches and eye-wateringly expensive houses, but there’s more variety in the Upper City Centre. Most of the city’s historic buildings have architecture reflecting varied African, Asian and European roots.

Sea, forest, mountains: not many cities have managed to bag themselves such diverse and beautiful locations. Vancouver’s gleaming cityscape weaves around the edges of the bay, creating a picturesque image against the wooded, often snow-capped mountains, laced with suspension bridges and cable cars. Gorgeous green spaces and historic neighbourhoods like Gastown, with galleries and shops in Victorian buildings, complete this delightful patchwork of a city.

Buenos Aires is a gorgeous sweep of a city that’s almost too vast and varied to comprehend. The real delight, though, is in the details. Some areas like downtown have a distinctively European feel, with broad boulevards, manicured squares and elegant opera houses. Pretty neighbourhoods like Palermo are filled with boutiques and independent eateries. While La Boca, pictured, is a joyous riot of colour, especially on Caminito – an open-air museum with painted houses, sculptures and murals, built around a discontinued railway line.

Santa Barbara proudly maintains its Spanish heritage, from the red-roofed, white-walled architecture to the Spanish Mission perched above the city. It’s also beautifully located, stretching from gently rolling hills inland to the golden beaches along the Pacific Coast. Highlights include Stearns Wharf, which juts into the harbour; and the Funk Zone, an enclave of converted warehouses that now house galleries, boutiques and breweries.

The historic centre of Hoi An is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s clear to see why. It’s at its most charming in the evenings, when the silk lanterns hanging from every shopfront are lit, adding a warm glow to the moss-covered, ramshackle streets. The light dances across the ornamented old buildings, with carvings of carps and dragons, and reflects in the lazy Thu Bon River.

Although the city is full of charming spots, the French Quarter is what really sets New Orleans apart. This well-preserved historic district is the nightlife and shopping hub of the city, with music flowing through its cobbled streets and antiques shops filled with treasures and curios. Every building deserves to be gawped at, from shotgun and Creole-style houses in eye-catching colours to hotels with lacy wrought-iron balconies and the imposing spires of St Louis Cathedral.

In the far south of the USA’s most northerly state is Ketchikan, centered on a small cluster of colourful clapboard stilt houses perched over Ketchikan Creek. The city’s known for its Indigenous (mostly Tlingit and Haida) heritage and is one of the best places to see intricately carved and brightly painted totem poles in their intended environment. And what an environment it is, with luxuriant green forests, glacier-carved valleys and looming mountains just outside the city.

Quebec City is defined by the citadel at its heart, the fortified old town full of cobblestoned streets, mansard-roofed houses and imposing statues. Most of the (excellently maintained) buildings are from the 17th and 18th centuries, but Chateau Frontenac, presiding over the whole city and now a luxury hotel, dates to the 1890s. Its picturesque streets and alleyways were made for getting wonderfully, happily lost in.

As with the rest of the island state of Tasmania, Hobart has a more rugged feel than other major cities in Australia, trading white-sand beaches for moody mountains and wide, breezy streets for narrow alleys. Rising above the city is the 4,170-feet-high (1,271m) Kunanyi (or Mount Wellington), which has glorious views of this city spread along the River Derwent. There are beaches too, and gloriously golden ones at that.

With its picture-perfect beaches, colourful street art and green parks complete with palm trees, Tauranga is a perfect chilled-out beachside city. But it’s Mauao (Mount Maunganui), an extinct volcano jutting out into the bay, which really sets it apart. Hiking trails weave up to the summit, which has panoramic views across the city to its white-sand beaches and the Pacific Ocean.

The Holy City, the Place of the Gods, the centre of Tibetan Buddhism – Lhasa has a lot to live up to. But it would be hard not to be moved by the first sight of the Potala Palace or the fervour of pilgrims walking the Barkhor circuit around the Jokhang temple in winding, incense-scented alleys. Perhaps it’s the altitude, but Lhasa seems to have something magical about it.

San Francisco has made the most of its privileged spot around San Francisco Bay, with piers jutting into the water and green spaces including the Presidio, a vast and varied park on a former military base and right next to the rust-red arches of the Golden Gate Bridge. But the rest of the city is a stunner too with pastel houses – including the famous Victorian Painted Ladies by Alamo Square, pictured – stacked like rows of wedding cakes clinging to vertiginous streets.

With its temples, shrines and Imperial Palace, Kyoto looms large in Japanese culture. Though the centre is fairly modern, the city’s historic districts are as beguiling and beautiful as ever. There’s Arashiyama, home to bamboo groves and pagodas; Higashiyama, with cherry blossom trees bowing over the canal and temples lining the foothills; and Gion and Pontocho, where geishas can sometimes be glimpsed emerging from traditional machiya (tea houses) and gliding down the narrow streets to their next engagement.

The capital city of one of the world’s wildest places, Nuuk feels like it’s always either preparing for winter or has already hunkered down against it. In summer, the wood-clad houses add bright spots of red, pink and orange to a landscape of green grass, black rocks and piercingly blue sea. In winter, they pop against the thick layer of white snow, slate-grey water and almost sunless days. That’s also the best time to see the dancing green lights of the Northern Lights.

To many, Shanghai means one thing: The Bund. The promenade looks across the river to the skyscrapers of Pudong, which are extravagantly illuminated at night. This is a big, brash and unashamedly bold metropolis. But there are a few areas offering a relatively subdued and peaceful contrast to the almost relentlessly gleaming, heady megacity. The old French Concession is particularly atmospheric, while the old town has the highest concentration of temples in the city.

Stirling seems to be striving towards its highest ground, the whole of the old town drawing the eye up to the imposing Stirling Castle and a step higher still to the Neo-Gothic Wallace Monument. Set among rolling farmland and forested mountains, it makes for a dramatic gateway to the Highlands. And it loses none of its drama up close. Its steep, cobbled streets are lined with sturdy stone buildings with an occasional mouldering old mansion thrown in for good, Gothic measure.

Despite being a huge, sprawling metropolis, Yogyakarta retains its traditions, heritage and thriving arts scene. At its heart is the sultan’s palace (Kraton), with several other of the king's residences dotted around the city. Most of the buildings are in traditional Javanese style, but some display European and Chinese influences. Taman Sari is particularly enchanting – an evocative, partially ruined royal bathing complex, it's the focal point of a charming residential area.

Packed with ancient monuments and picturesque piazzas, Rome’s historic core must be one of the world’s most seductive. There’s the imposing Colosseum, the iconic, creamy columns of the Pantheon, the world-famous Trevi Fountain and countless charming squares. The city is so full of beauty and iconic sights at every street corner that it rivals some of the best museums in the world (and it has some of those too).

Feeling closer to the Mediterranean than the commercial charms of Orlando, St Augustine’s old town is all Spanish-Colonial buildings, palm-lined streets and cobbled lanes. And it’s not just for show: as the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the US, established by the Spanish in 1565, these historic monuments and buildings are the real deal. But it’s still Florida, so of course there are some glorious stretches of sand to top it all off.

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Perth’s sunny disposition and outdoor-centric lifestyle are attractive enough. But it's the location of this Western Australian city, which winds along both the Swan River and the Indian Ocean coast, that really sets it apart. Well-maintained beaches and parks, shining skyscrapers reflecting in the water and architectural wonders like The Bell Tower add to the appeal.

The prettiest part of Lyon is its old town, Vieux Lyon, where it’s easy to get lost in narrow streets lined with medieval and Renaissance buildings and criss-crossed with the city’s distinctive traboules. These secret covered alleys and tunnels, originally built to protect silk-workers from the rain, are incredibly atmospheric. But to get a real sense of the city, you need a wider view. From the hilltop district of Fourviere and the Basilique Notre-Dame, the entire red-roofed city unfurls below, with the Alps visible on the horizon.

The pretty but unpretentious charms of Portland are given extra clout by the city’s location, right on the water. There's Baxter Boulevard, with gorgeous views across Casco Bay, while the Old Port waterfront is a mix of maritime history, working fishing wharves and converted warehouses that house restaurants and shops. Just outside the city, Fort Williams Park has postcard-perfect views of 18th-century lighthouse Portland Head Light.

This sprawling city can be overwhelming due to its sheer size. But its beauty is best revealed in its individual details. There are the charming suburbs like leafy Coyoacan and laid-back San Angel. Then there’s the architecture, with landmarks including the Palacio Nacional with its tiered arches and stairwell with a mural by famous artist Diego Riviera, tracing Mexico’s complex history. Green spaces, monuments and a thriving art scene top off its heady beauty.

St John’s is one of the oldest cities in North America, established around the turn of the 16th century. But the weight of its history sits lightly about the city, which feels more like a laid-back small town. Dotted along the waterfront and in the city centre are brightly painted houses, and at the southern edge of the sheltered harbour is a squat little lighthouse. Signal Point gazes across the city and out over the Atlantic.

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Home to one of the world’s oldest universities, founded in the 13th century, it’s no surprise that Cambridge’s streets are full of historic buildings. There’s the Wren Library at Trinity College, the awe-inspiring King’s College Chapel, founded in 1446, and the Tudor precincts of Queen’s College. All three are set along the River Cam and a walk along The Backs, a riverside area that several colleges back onto, is the perfect way to appreciate the sheer density of history in this beautiful city.

Founded on the Caribbean coast of Colombia in the 1530s, Cartagena is one of Latin America’s most beautiful cities. The walled old town – across the water from modern, high-rise Bocagrande – is the really photogenic part, dotted with leafy plazas. Its narrow streets are lined with churches, pretty courtyards and brightly painted houses, their balconies overflowing with plants.

Each district of the Catalonian capital has something new to show off, but it’s the city’s buildings that really make it memorable. The grid-planned streets of the Eixample are enlivened by the sinuous lines of La Pedrera, dramatic spires of Casa de les Punxes and, of course, the city’s crowning jewel, the Sagrada Familia. Seemingly rising from the ground, Gaudi’s masterpiece alone earns Barcelona a place among the world’s most beautiful cities.

Charleston oozes Southern charm and elegance. The city – the oldest in South Carolina, founded in 1670 – retains a small-town air with its pastel-coloured antebellum houses and canopied porches (often complete with a rocking chair or two). Cobblestone streets and boulevards studded with palm trees lead down to the Battery promenade and Waterfront Park, making the most of the city’s perfect location on Charleston Harbor.

Fans of Gothic architecture will love Lubeck in northern Germany. The city pioneered a red-brick Gothic style that’s visible pretty much everywhere but especially at the grand city gate, Holstentor. Inside are atmospheric alleyways overshadowed by jauntily leaning houses, grand squares with public buildings (the Rathaus is one of the country’s most impressive), intriguing little courtyards and imposing, spired churches.

The Hungarian capital is actually two cities – Buda and Pest – rolled into one, yet still sliced in half by the Danube. Budapest has long been one of Europe's most important cities, once capital of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its streets, squares and riverfront reflect this history and grandeur, with highlights from the Szechenyi Chain Bridge and imposing Buda Castle to the simply one-of-a-kind Hungarian Parliament Building.

Loud, colourful and just a little bit chaotic – Marrakech lives up to its expectations and throws in a little bit more. Adorned by the intricate Saadien Tombs, the stunning Bahia Palace and blindingly blue Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech's lavish and sprawling attractions are in stark contrast to its lively medina, with maze-like alleys and thriving souks filled with traditional pottery, lanterns, textiles and jewellery.

Facing the cosmopolitan Buenos Aires across the R​io de la Plata, Colonia del Sacramento may as well be on a different planet, or perhaps from a different era. The city charms with its excellently preserved, UNESCO-designated Barrio Historico (Historic Quarter) and its cobbled streets, tiled roofs and low-rise stone buildings showing a singular mix of Portuguese and Spanish styles. In the evenings, locals usually gather at the waterfront to applaud the setting sun, which washes the city in a soft rose-gold glow.

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is packed with grand architecture, glorious open spaces and a generous number of beer gardens. Marienplatz is the city’s focal point, lined with imposing Gothic edifices, but there are also significant Baroque, Romanesque and even Rococo buildings dotted throughout the city centre. The English Garden, a green space even bigger than New York City's Central Park, offers respite from this dizzying architectural parade.

Valletta is one of Europe’s smallest capitals and every inch is incredibly, uniformly beautiful. The city is known for its Baroque architecture yet there are surprises around every corner, from imposing Fort St Elmo and Neoclassical St Paul's Pro-Cathedral to the intricately patterned city gate and Parliament House, both designed by Renzo Piano. Stepped, cobbled streets are lined with buttery limestone buildings with colourful enclosed balconies, all clinging above the boldly blue bay.

The home of rock ’n’ roll is more quaint ’n’ charming, really. Cleveland makes the most of its gorgeous spot on Lake Erie with a picturesque waterfront area which is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The rest of the city is pretty too, with well-maintained historic buildings including the impressive Arcade, an ornate, glass-roofed 1890s shopping centre in downtown.

It’s hard to know where to look in Dakar, which combines the charms of a vibrant city with the appeal of a laid-back beach town. The city is full of history and architectural gems including the strikingly patterned Mosque of the Divinity. It’s the gorgeous beaches and islands that really make Dakar stand out, though. Laid-back Ile de Ngor is all swaying palms and colourful boats, while Ile de Goree is undoubtedly the most well-known for its role in the Atlantic slave trade but also its elegant architecture and emerging artistic community.

Havana’s faded grandeur is famous for a reason. The wide avenues, lined with bright, peeling buildings; the laundry hanging from wrought-iron balconies; the plants growing on, and occasionally out of, windowsills; the wide plazas, ornate churches and eye-catching murals. Havana is a jumble of so many different elements that it shouldn’t quite work – but somehow, it all comes together to create something unforgettable.

It's no surprise Italy has several cities that make our list and we couldn't leave out Venice. The northern city, built on a lagoon, has long lured lovers, tourists and artists alike, drawn to the unique architecture. Highlights include the Piazza San Marco (dominated by St Mark's Basilica), Doges Palace and the looping Rialto Bridge. But really, there’s beauty around every corner, in every piazza and every canal.

Zanzibar City is the capital of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region and small island off the coast of Tanzania, part of the archipelago famed for white-sand beaches. At its core is Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its appeal lies not in formal sights but in its overall beauty and atmosphere. Twisting alleys lead to bustling spice markets, crumbling palaces and brightly painted shops and cafes. Centuries of history and the vibrancy of modern life exist side-by-side here.

Paris is known as a destination for romance and lovers, but with looks like these it’s the city itself that often steals visitors’ hearts. Much of its beauty is boldly on show, from its broad boulevards and the curves of the River Seine to the perfect structure of the Eiffel Tower. There’s plenty more displayed in museums and galleries too. Paris shines in all weathers – gleaming in summer, golden-hued in autumn, sparkling with a dusting of snow and pretty in pink in spring.

Florence's historic buildings, higgledy-piggledy network of winding streets and glorious sunsets mean the Tuscan city is regularly voted one of the world's most stunning. Highlights include the city’s cathedral, the Duomo; and Giotto's Campanile or bell tower, the top of which has sweeping vistas over the city’s red roofs. It’s also home to incredible museums and art collections, including works by Leonardo da Vinci at the Uffizi Gallery.

Elegant Oaxaca sits high in the Sierra Norte, its majestic churches and refined plazas the pinnacle of colonial architecture. But dig beneath the surface and you’ll uncover the city’s vibrant Indigenous Zapotec culture. It's best seen during the annual Guelaguetza Festival, when people from across the state come together to perform costumed dances. Or in a plate of chicken drizzled with chocolate mole, served fresh in the city’s bustling market – followed, of course, by a spot of mezcal from one of the city’s hip mezcalerias (bars).

The capital of South Korea offers everything you could want from a modern city. You’ll find dazzling streets of brightest neon, bustling food halls serving delicious street food and venues hosting the latest in K-pop music and Korean fashion and art. But there are pockets of ancient wonder and quiet contemplation too. The peaceful grounds of Bongeunsa Buddhist temple (pictured), built in AD 794, are just moments away from the trendy Gangnam district, made famous by Psy's 2012 smash pop hit, Gangnam Style.

Wandering the cobbled streets of Tallinn’s atmospheric old town, you could be forgiven for thinking you've been transported back to the Middle Ages. It's one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, with ancient city walls enclosing an imposing 13th-century town hall, a bustling market square and elegant places of worship like St Nicholas Church. The old town is in two parts: Lower Old Town, which was home to merchants and craftsmen, and Toompea Hill, where the nobles lived. Today, viewing platforms here offer breathtaking views across the city.

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